The Podcast Fast Track

The Podcast Fast Track

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The Podcast Fast Track episodes

  • 158: How Scott Johnson uses his head to create ongoing audience growth

    Every podcaster is looking for ways to grow her audience. Why? Hopefully, it's for reasons bigger than our own ego (if it's not, please — STOP podcasting right now).

    The best reason to work toward podcast audience growth is to better serve those who find our show interesting and or helpful. I know you agree with me, right?

    Scott Johnson is a guy who does that through a couple of podcasts, but the one we focus on in this conversation is what he calls his "passion project" — "What was that like?" It's an intriguing show that interviews real people about the bizarre and sometimes painful experiences they've had in life. (Check out this episode, "Robert was in a gunfight with pirates" to get a taste for yourself).

    Scott and I discuss the MAIN thing he's done to keep his audience growth heading upward — and it comes in THREE forms. He breaks it down on this episode.

    You'll enjoy this episode if you're interested in...
    • the best ways to discover what kind of people listen to your podcast
    • how to find other podcasts that have a similar audience (listen to understand why this is important)
    • making connections with the podcasters who host those shows
    • partnering with other podcasters to grow your respective shows
    • real-life results that come from this strategy
    • podcast mastermind groups: their benefits might surprise you

    Mentioned on this episode
    • "What was that like?" - Scott's podcast discussed on this episode: https://whatwasthatlike.com/
    • Scott's The Computer Tutor podcast: https://computertutorflorida.com/

    MIDROLL: Podcast Mastermind

    If you're interested in growing your podcast by joining forces with other podcasters who are on their way to success (just like you), consider applying for the next Podcast Fast Track Podcast Mastermind. It's one of the best investments you can make in your podcast, hands-down. Not to mention the great ongoing cooperative relationships you'll make with other podcasters like yourself. APPLY FOR THE NEXT GROUP HERE.

    Other podcasters who share your audience are NOT your competition

    One of the things I've loved about podcasting ever since I started is the reality that it's a very cooperative space. Unlike other industries, podcasters seem more than generous to help others who are trying to grow a show just like they are. This conversation with Scott is an example (he's a very generous guy).

    Scott banks on that fact as part of his podcast audience growth strategy. It's an easy assumption to make because you know that other podcasters who your audience finds intriguing or interesting are attempting to grow their listenership just like you. Reaching out to them to investigate cooperative partnerships makes perfect sense.

    But it's not easy to do with all the SPAM hitting our inboxes these days. For that reason, I was super interested in finding out how Scott makes the most of his opportunities to partner with other podcasters. As I suspected, he doesn't use a copy-and-paste email template that can be modified for pseudo-personal outreach. He does the hard work required to ensure he's coming across genuinely and that his communication is cutting through the noise. Listen to find out the details because I ask him all the questions.

    What elements contribute to your audience growth outreach pitch being noticed?

    As I mentioned above, SPAM seems to be at an all-time high. I probably receive 10 to 20 requests a day from people (bots?) looking to USE ME to advance their cause or business. I say it that way because most of them demonstrate in their original outreach that they haven't researched me, my business, or my audience at all. They've just pasted a form letter into an email, input my name and email address, and hit "send." YUK!

    You do NOT want to be one of those people when reaching out to potential podcast audience growth partners. You've got to cut through the noise and prove from the moment they see your subject line (if you're using email to reach out) that you are a real person who knows something about them and genuinely wants to help them as a true partner. That's a TALL ORDER, but one Scott has been pretty successful at meeting.

    How does he do it? It starts with a non-sensational, boring subject line on his emails... and it gets him some pretty amazing results. Listen to hear exactly what he does and why he believes it works.

    Scott's audience growth project works... but it's also HARD WORK

    It's one thing to say that you've found a way to grow your podcast audience (like Scott has).

    It's still another thing to connect the increase in downloads directly with the efforts you made.

    So it was important to me that I verify that Scott's claims are legit. It's not that I don't trust him, but for your sake I want to accurately represent what he's experienced — so YOU don't have any misconceptions about what could happen if you duplicate Scott's approach.

    So asking him those questions, he was able to give me NUMBERS of increases in listenership after promotion and then verify that the baseline growth of his show, though it declined after the promotion, remained higher than it was pre-promotion.

    But don't take all that to mean it's "easy and fast results" like a lot of the internet hooey you hear out there. It's not easy. It's not fast. It's not even simple. But once you get the process down and apply it in a savvy way like Scott has, you should see similar results.

    Don't miss out on this approach to podcast audience growth that Scott has pioneered. Though he's likely NOT the first person to try it, he's the only person I know who has put in the time and effort to perfect it (as much as anything can be perfected),

    46 min
  • 157: Podcast Show Notes Best Practices and Strategy

    For the first time ever, podcast show notes display almost the SAME in all podcasting apps (thanks Apple).

    That brings up the question... what ARE show notes anyway? And how can I best use them?

    On this episode of Podcastification, I'm going to explain what show notes are, what they should contain, and how to create and use them in the MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS.

    Keep reading.

    What ARE show notes?

    There are differing opinions or definitions out there for the term "show notes." Some people feel like it's a blog post length summary of a podcast episode, or maybe even a transcript of the audio.

    Others feel the term should refer mainly to the brief description of an episode you might find in a podcast app.

    Which is it?

    From my perspective as the Founder of a company that creates show notes for podcasting clients, it's both.

    Let me explain...

    Kill two birds with one stone

    To make the most of every episode of your podcast, you really NEED BOTH the longer blog post content that goes on your website, AND the shorter, abbreviated content that pulls into the podcast apps from your media host.

    Instead of creating a separate document or post for those two things, I suggest you create one MASTER post that you can use in a variety of ways to fulfill both needs... and social media elements while you're at it.

    But before we get to that, there's one last thing I want to say...

    Your listeners won't know what you've created for them if you don't guide them to it

    You may follow the steps I'm about to give you and create the best show notes on the planet or within your industry or niche.

    But if your audience doesn't know they are available, they won't use them.

    It's YOUR job to ensure they know about the resources you create.

    I suggest you figure out a way to remind yourself to TELL your audience about your show notes EVERY TIME you record a new episode.

    • Develop a bullet-point list you use when you record that reminds you of all the important stuff you need to say
    • Add references to your show notes to that list

    WHERE DO YOU INCLUDE IT?

    • Make the mention of your show notes a standard part of your call to action at the end of each episode.
    • When guests share a resource, comment that you'll include it in the show notes or description.

    Your listeners will become aware of your show notes and become accustomed to looking at them when they need a resource... in time. Just be consistent.

    MAKE FINDING THE NOTES EASY FOR YOUR LISTENERS

    The last stats I saw (early 2021) said that 85% of podcast listeners are listening on a mobile device. So think about that from a show notes perspective...

    If you're saying, "Check out the website for the show notes to this episode," you're making it HARD for your listeners to find them.

    Even if you refer to a specific short-link, you're still forcing them to open a web browser and find the show notes.

    HERE'S A BETTER IDEA...

    Since you know that the majority of your listeners are listening to your show on a mobile device, then point them to the description on their mobile device. I often say something like this...

    "That resource can be found in the description for this episode, and you can find that in the listening app you're using to listen right now. Swipe right, left, up, down... something and the description section will be there."

    Your show notes master document

    First off, create a Google Doc that you can use as a template for your show notes. That way you don't have to recreate the structure every time you produce a new episode.

    You'll simply copy the template document, rename it, and away you go.

    What should your template include?

    I'm going to give you my suggestions... and I'm going to do so in a specific order, for a specific reason. It will make your creation easier to repurpose and reuse.

    • Basic intro paragraph(s)

    Picture this intro paragraph section this way...

    A new potential listener finds your show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your cover art catches their eye and they decide to click through to see your description.

    Then they see an episode title that's intriguing (we'll get to that in a moment). And they decide to click through to read the description of the episode.

    THIS section is what they see when they do that. It needs to be compelling, interesting, and informative - in as few words as possible.

    Start out with something catchy, something that introduces the topic or guest in an appealing way to the reader.

    Make it short and to the point. Imagine each sentence tying into the next to lead the reader along.

    Some folks include bios here but I find bios to be too boring and too hard to read. I tend to scan them and I think most internet readers do the same. So don't waste your time with long, all-inclusive bios. If you want to include them, do it later in a "guest" section of your notes.

    • Time-stamped bullet point outline of content (OPTIONAL but describe use as CLICKABLE)

    To be honest, this section is optional — but I always include it if I can. Why?

    Because it enables your reader (who tends to scan things) to easily see the main topics and issues covered in the audio. It's like bait, tempting them to listen.

    And I include this in the media host (podcast players) because in most podcast players, the timestamps are clickable... meaning the person taps on them and the audio begins playing at that point in the episode.

    • Resource section (links to things & people mentioned)

    This is where you provide links to resources you or your guest mention in the episode recording.

    I don't include things like Google or Youtube because everyone knows about them and how to find them.

    But I do include links to apps or software programs, online courses, people, books, and a variety of other things.

    If you decide to link to resources that are affiliate relationships (you get paid if people buy using your link) then do the right thing and disclose that it's an affiliate relationship.

    • Contact info for guests

    Include information about how your listeners can contact your guests. You can either include all social, websites, etc. - OR - you can ask the guest their preferred means of communication with listeners.

    If your guest has written books or has an offer for your listeners, provide that link here as well (and refer to it being in the show notes for the episode, so listeners can go get it)

    • Contact info for you

    Podcast listeners build a one-sided relationship with you, the host of their favorite podcast. So make it easy for them to connect with you.

    Include your preferred ways of being contacted... and perhaps even put it near the top of the post in your media host account (apps) so listeners can find it easily.

    EVERYTHING TO THIS POINT IS WHAT I'D INCLUDE IN YOUR MEDIA HOST ACCOUNT - BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE APPS WILL GET THEIR DESCRIPTIONS FROM.

    But for your website blog post, I'd add additional information...

    • Keyword conscious content of 500 words or more (SEO)

    If you want the blog post that accompanies your episodes to have any chance at all in getting Google's attention when people search for key phrases related to your episodes, you'll need more content on the page.

    Google recommends 500 to 600 words minimum, so that's what we aim for AS a minimum.

    It's going to include everything I've mentioned so far, so you're only going to need 2 to 3 more paragraphs of content to fill out the blog post.

    This is where I place those paragraphs.

    I'll include a catchy H2 level header, then write a brief paragraph or two about the topic mentioned in that header.

    Make it informative, helpful, and true to the audio content. (NO CLICK BAIT)

    Then I'll write a couple more headers and paragraphs following the same pattern.

    TIP:

    The bullet points you've already created will probably give you great ideas for good headers and the content to follow.

    • Images with proper titles and tags for your keywords (Canva, Snappa, Stencil, Easil)

    For website posts, images are always optional. But if you're posting for the sake of SEO (which you should be) then you need to have images.

    Google says the more "media-rich" your page is, the more likely it is to rank when people search for the topics covered on that page.

    Images help you tick that box.

    There are lots of free tools out there to help you create attractive images that highlight your content and promote your brand or your guest.

    When you use images, be sure the title of the image includes keywords you hope to rank for... and fill out the image "alt" tag with a keyword-focused description for those who are visually impaired.

    And don't put the same title and alt tag on every image you use on the page. Title them in relationship to what the images are.

    Repurpose your master document even further

    Not only are you going to use the top section I described in your media host description to feed the apps (summary paragraph, bullet-point outline, contact info for you and the guest, and resources), you're also going to use the content for social media.

    Headers and bullet-point outlines can make great tweets, if you reformat them slightly to be intriguing and appealing to Twitter users.

    Don't forget to include relevant hashtags (but don't overdo it)

    Your blog post paragraphs can make great social media posts — again, with some reworking and proper hashtag use.

    And don't forget to include a link with your social media posts - to your podcast episode blog page (my recommendation)

    Resources Mentioned
    • Podnews article about Show Notes now displaying consistently
    • Canva - graphics creation program
    • Snappa - graphics creation program
    • Stencil - graphics creation program
    • Easil - graphics creation program
    • Previous episodes of Podcastification about show notes:
    • https://podcastfasttrack.com/20
    • https://podcastfasttrack.com/21
    • https://podcastfasttrack.com/22
    • https://podcastfasttrack.com/23

    Contact Carey

    https://PodcastFastTrack.com

    36 min
  • 156: How to monetize a hobby with Maria Failla
    If you feel you don't know enough about the topics you want to podcast about, you are in good company

    Maria Failla began her podcast, Bloom & Grow Radio because she DIDN'T know enough about how to care for her plants and saw it as a great opportunity to talk to experts who did. And by the way, isn't that a GREAT name for a podcast? It comes from a line in Maria's favorite song from the musical, "The Sound of Music" - Edelweiss.

    I was eager to talk with Maria about her journey because as a client, I've seen her go from almost no audience to an amazing following and enthusiastic membership community that's quite astounding. The lessons she's learned are ones any podcaster can benefit from, especially if you're looking to serve your audience in bigger ways, build relationships with sponsors that benefit them long-term, and therefore, fuel your podcast, AND make your podcast a full-time living kind of thing eventually.

    All of that is true of Maria and it just might be possible for you too. Give her a chance to convince you of what's possible!

    What you'll learn from Maria's story
    • [2:32] Maria's monetization story: Where she's at now
    • [4:32] Niche podcast ad sales | speaking opportunities | membership community
    • [7:18] The wandering path: Why Maria thought 10 episodes would be it for her show
    • [11:10] The first steps of monetization Maria started taking
    • [14:35] How to leverage the power of the fact that you are your target listener
    • [19:36] How to move affiliate relationships to sponsor partnerships

    🚨 Set up a MEMBERSHIP for your podcast

    In this episode, I mentioned that I have a very successful membership once your podcast is rolling. You'll hear Maria speak about how she's doing that if you listen (you ARE going to listen, right?).

    I use a platform called Supercast, which I describe at the midpoint of this conversation. HERE IS MY AFFILIATE LINK to Supercast... and remember, if you use my link to sign up for Supercast, I'll send you my "Supercast Walkthrough" video to help you get it set up and get started.

    And to see how Supercast works, here is the link I share with my podcast listers that provides more information about my podcast partnership (what I call it instead of a "membership"): https://CareyGreen.com/partners

    • [27:17] The membership Maria has created sounds amazing... she shares how you can build one too!
    • [33:06] Premium tiers are coming to Maria's membership... here's how she's setting it up
    • [36:01] How Maria's self-doubt and ignorance led her to a vulnerable approach to her topics (that has been SUPER successful)
    • [38:10] Getting past the fear of asking people for money to support what you're doing
    • [42:01] Being friends with your sponsors removes the tension from the financial relationship and makes things more fun
    • [44:51] Why "Bespoke" podcast ads are THE WAY TO GO with your sponsor relationships (it's a game-changer for you and your sponsor)

    If you're not an expert in your niche, that may be an IDEAL reason to start a podcast
    • Maria says that she never expected her podcast to get past 10 episodes. There were a handful of reasons for that but the main one was that she thought she would probably run out of questions and guests by then. But as she got into things, it became clear to her that not only did she have more and more questions as she went along, but the audience was benefitting greatly from the content she was producing.
    • That led her to one of the key insights that have served her well throughout her podcasting journey...

    Keep the audience in mind always. Serve them. Learn what they need and give it to them.
    • When I heard Maria say that, it ran so many bells in my head (I hear bells often). She's onto something that most of my successful clients have discovered as well. As a podcaster, you truly SHOULD BE IN IT FOR YOUR AUDIENCE first, and yourself secondarily.
    • Maria's novice status resonated with her audience and her journey became their journey. She discovered that she was her ideal target listener and that revelation helped her to serve them even better.

    Affiliate sales may be the first place to start — but you have to do it right
    • At the beginning, Maria had no ambition to monetize her show, but the monthly expenses of producing her show and providing resources to her listeners, though small, added up over time. So her first goal was to earn enough money from the show to cover the expenses. It wasn't much, but it was enough that she was motivated.
    • Her first monetization attempt, which continues in various forms to this day, was through Affiliate relationships. In short, it means you refer people to products and get paid by the people behind the product for doing so. It's a referral fee, in essence. But she also learned that there are right ways and wrong ways to promote as an affiliate.

    THE WRONG WAY TO PROMOTE AFFILIATE PRODUCTS:
    • Promote anything that can make you money... and the bigger the payout percentage the better.
    • Why is this the wrong way to go about affiliate partnerships? Because it violates the principle Maria learned at the beginning, it isn't keeping your audience in mind. Remember, your audience listens to your show because they are interested in the TOPICS you cover. Your ideal affiliate products will connect to that reality in some way.
    • Hawking anything that makes you money communicates loud and clear to your audience that they are a commodity you're willing to take advantage of, not people you truly care about.
    • Don't make that mistake if you're going to promote affiliate products.

    THE RIGHT WAY TO PROMOTE AFFILIATE PRODUCTS
    • In light of what I said in the previous point, find items or services you can believe in and genuinely recommend to your audience. This means you should find a way to try them out. From early on, Maria chose the products she would recommend to her audience from her own experience. She looked around her apartment and asked herself a key question, "Which things do I use regularly that I absolutely love?" THOSE were the things she chose to associate with as an affiliate.
    • She was also careful to promote those products in a way that didn't feel gross to her. She wanted to be enthusiastic about the products, not pushy, so she refused to use canned scripts provided by affiliates (or sponsors). She wrote them herself to maintain her own voice and excitement about the item or service.
    • Listen to hear how she crafts "Bespoke" endorsements to this day, with the help of your sponsors (who she appropriately refers to as "partners").

    How to move your affiliate relationships to true sponsorships
    • The products and services Maria promoted through affiliate relationships were the natural first option when it came to starting official sponsorships. She discovered that the track record she had with affiliate partners enabled her to build on the effectiveness of her promotions to pitch them sponsorship opportunities.
    • At first, she had to work out the kinks regarding how to pitch them and what they were most interested in. But in the end, the fact that they both wanted the same thing (to help her audience through the products the affiliate had to provide) enabled them to come to terms and begin working at a bigger, more effective level.
    • Maria's lessons-learned are too varied and detailed for me to cover adequately here, so make sure you listen to hear how she made this transition, and the kinds of approaches she takes today to ensure her sponsors stay with her over the long haul (THIS PART is pure GOLD, don't miss it).

    The benefits of true sponsor RELATIONSHIPS (as friends, not just business associates)
    • True product or service sponsorships are based on a trusting relationship. The sponsor has to know that you are as enthusiastic about their success as they are — and both of you need to be committed to driving that success for each other's benefit. One example from Maria's story that I thought was amazing is that her sponsors will sometimes call her up to ask about new products they are creating, new marketing plans they are considering, and she's more than eager to help. She knows that the more she can help them, the more their products will help her listeners and the more beneficial that will be to everyone (her included).
    • Maria's sponsors have grown WITH her through the life cycle of her podcast. They have seen the ups and downs and since they've been along for the ride, they are committed to her success.
    • Why?
    • First, because they like her and enjoy working with her. But additionally, because she makes them money and drives their success forward. There's a legitimate REASON Maria refers to her sponsors as "Partners" — because that's exactly what they are!
    • I could tell you so much more about Maria's endeavors... the Membership community she's launched, the upcoming high-tier products and membership that she's working on, and the motivation behind it all. But rather than typing it all out, you should hear it in her own voice. Click "play" and hear it in her own words.

    Connect with Maria Failla (Bloom & Grow)
    • Maria's show: Bloom & Grow Radio (listen to a recent episode to hear how Maria does her ad spots)
    • Maria on Instagram: @BloomandGrow
    • Maria's "Plant Parent Personality" assessment (DO IT if you're into plants - or want to be)
    • Maria's YouTube channel
    • Maria's "Garden Party & Garden Society" membership community

    Resources & people Maria mentioned
    • Pat Flynn
    • John Lee Dumas' "Free Podcast Course" podcast
    • Pat Flynn's marketing course
    • "What's your ideal avatar" episode from John Lee Dumas
    • Patreon - Maria has used and still uses this platform
    • Mighty Networks (Maria uses this for her Membership community)
    • Survey Monkey (Maria uses this for annual listener surveys)
    • SolTech Solutions (one of Maria's show sponsors)

    52 min
  • 155: Subscribe Is Gone (Apple only, so far)
    Subscribe Is Gone (on Apple only, so far)

    Podcast tech is changing all the time, so we shouldn't be surprised when Apple makes a change (unannounced, as is often the case).

    What's the latest change?

    Apple's newest version of the iOS app (14.5 update) is now MISSING the "Subscribe" button. It also has no "Follow" button (which we've previously thought was coming).

    What users will see now when they click into a podcast they are considering is a button that says "Latest Episode."

    When they click that button...

    ...what happens? It plays the LAST 60 SECONDS of your most recent episode.

    Did you get that?

    Your MOST RECENT episode is going to be the Costco Sample for potential listeners. That's a big deal.

    It's easier for listeners to check out your show than ever before... but Apple is DICTATING how they do that... through the most recent episode.

    So you should consider if what you're doing during that first 60 seconds is...

    • compelling
    • intriguing
    • entertaining
    • interesting
    • provocative
    • alluring
    • helpful

    If it's not, this is a good time to make a change.

    What kind of change might you make?

    START WITH A TEASER

    My episode this time started with what I'd call a "teaser." It's a creative way of introducing the topic.

    You can do this like I did, with unique or interesting music underneath.

    You could add a quote or clip from your guest that highlights the most interesting or compelling aspects of what they had to share.

    You could tell a story from your experience that illustrates the topic of your episode in an engaging way.

    There are so many ways to do it.

    What should NOT be in the first 60 seconds?ADS GO SOMEPLACE ELSE

    Advertisements or sponsor spots should NOT be in the first 60 seconds of your episodes from now on.

    Think about it...

    If YOU were a new-podcast-searcher and found a show you thought might be interesting... and you clicked that "Latest Podcast" button... and you hear an...

    ADVERTISEMENT for the first 60 seconds...

    what would YOU think?

    What would you do?

    What would you wonder about that podcast and its creator?

    Long, boring, canned intros should be moved

    You may feel you still need the canned intro you've been using. You know, the radio-announcer-gal who says the same blah-blah-blah at the beginning of every one of your episodes.

    That's OK... but don't put it within that first 60 seconds.

    You want to use that 60 seconds of audio real estate to its fullest potential.

    Give value.

    Hook your listeners.

    Build interest.

    Promise something.

    Make them WANT to keep listening.

    I don't think I've ever heard a canned intro that has made me WANT to keep listening.

    Have you?

    Stay tuned... this is likely not over!

    Apple is well-known for making unannounced changes like this, and then tweaking the change for weeks, months, sometimes years.

    So keep your eyes open. This feature is likely not going to stay exactly like it is.

    I'll do my best to keep you informed.

    12 min
  • 154: Sponsorships for Niche Podcasts, with Glenn Hebert
    Glenn Hebert...

    is one of those guys who saw the value and power of podcasting early on. His "Horse Radio Network" has been in the podcasting game for a long, long time as a result.

    I wanted to chat with Glenn about monetization because he's done it well — he and his wife both work full-time for their little media company and have recurring sponsorships for their shows that are long-standing.

    How does that kind of thing happen? That's what I wanted to know.

    Glenn is quick to point out that his audience (horse owners) are an obsessive bunch (his words). They are eager and willing to spend lots of money on their horse hobby, so he's got a bit of a built-in "buyer's market" in his niche.

    But the principles he shares are applicable just the same.

    Listen to this episode to hear the story of how the HRN came about, how Glenn started monetizing, what the income is like now, and how he recommends you go about doing the same thing in your niche.

    40 min
  • 153: How to Uncover Monetization Opportunities, Grab Them First, and Make the Most of Them Long-Term, with Andrew Allemann
    Can you see the opportunities that exist in your niche?

    If so, you'll gain further insight from listening to this episode. If not, you'll REALLY benefit from listening.

    Andrew Allemann seems to have a knack for noticing the opportunities, taking action on them quickly, and making the most of being first to meet the need the opportunity represents.

    In this episode Andrew shares...
    • When he started his first business ventures (in college)
    • The lessons he learned from working for a corporation
    • How he noticed the opportunity to become a leading voice in the Domain Name industry
    • What he did to fill that need with what he had, on the cheap
    • The benefits podcasting brought to the table
    • How podcasting revealed another need and Andrew's quick moves to capitalize on it
    • Andrew's advice for wanna-be and already-started podcasters

    44 min
  • 152: Niche power, Professional Help, And Paying The Price, with Mark Goldman

    Podcasting success comes in all shapes and sizes... and in any niche area you can think of.

    This episode is a case-study of sorts and focuses on a very specific niche podcast and the impact its had on it's creator — Mark Goldman.

    Mark is an accountant, and a recruiter for the accounting industry. His businesses help others succeed in the accounting field and help companies in need of a good accountant, find one.

    So why did Mark think it was a good idea to start a podcast for the recruitment side of his business? Because he was looking for a way to make his voice heard in the industry and serve his audience of incoming accountants and business clients.

    But here's the funny part, Mark barely knew that podcasts even existed when he was introduced to the idea. When he found out about it, did some homework, and realized it might be a good content creation option for his company, he dove in.

    In this conversation, Mark shares his mistakes, his frustrations, his dashed expectations, and what he's learned along the way. And as powerfully as any guest I've had on the show, Mark drops some gold nuggets about mindset, financing your podcast, revenue generation, and more.

    You're going to love Mark's unassuming manner and humble demeanor. But more than that, you're going to love the powerful concepts and mindsets he has to share about making your podcast a success, even if it's in a very small niche.

    Take the time to listen. You can thank me later.

    42 min
  • 151: Monetize Your Podcast in 100s of Ways, with Dave Jackson

    It's not every day you get to have a "Podcast Hall of Fame" inductee on your podcast. But it's fun when it happens! In this case, it's because Dave Jackson is such a fun guy.

    He's known as "The Podcast Coach" and has earned the title since he's been podcasting since way back in 2005 and has published more podcasts of his own than most people have lived. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but not much of one.

    Podcast Monetization Is THE Topic

    This episode, Dave and I are talking about how to monetize a podcast — and we're not primarily referring to ad revenue when we say that. There are many, many, many ways to create a revenue channel accompanying your podcast and the limits are only as small as your level of creativity.

    Join us as we chat about the many examples included in his new book, "Profit from Your Podcast: Proven Strategies to Turn Listeners into a Livelihood." It's exactly what it sounds like.

    This episode introduces a series of episodes I'll be producing off and on over the next couple of months talking with podcasters who have approached the monetization issue from a variety of different standpoints. Some of them are in Dave's book. Others are not.

    Dave stuff

    Find Dave at https://SchoolofPodcasting.com

    Find his book at: https://www.profitfromyourpodcast.com/ - and I suggest you DO get his book.

    Check out Dave on the Podcaster's Hall of Fame

    32 min
  • 150: Marketing Your Podcast And Growing Your Audience the RIGHT WAY, with Jeremy Enns
    Get Into Jeremy's Podcast Marketing Course ASAP before it fills up! (Affiliate link)

    No doubt, marketing and promotion of your podcast, with a goal toward growing your audience with the RIGHT listeners, is a very difficult task. I know because I get questions about it from clients all the time.

    Are you struggling with the same issues? Dollars to donuts you are…

    Jeremy Enns has made a study of successful podcasters VS not-so-successful podcasters and he’s found a handful of things those on the plus side of the equation are doing that the others are not — even though it looks like the same thing from the outside.

    In this conversation, we cover all this stuff
    • Jeremy’s first podcast - an R-rated, Local Ice Cream Review show… really
    • Lessons learned from a co-hosted show (tech and intrapersonal)
    • How Jeremy created his podcast business and began specializing in marketing
    • 5 out of 10 clients were growing their shows effectively. Jeremy’s deep-dive
    • Why you have to view the purpose of your podcast differently to be successful
    • Jeremy’s view of marketing in general — and podcasting specifically
    • What the successful 50% of Jeremy’s clients were actually doing
    • Generative Marketing is Jeremy’s superpower — what IS it?
    • A magic question: “What would make my show something you can’t wait to share?”
    • Are you posting about your show on social in a way that is “me-me-me” centric?
    • Providing value on social media even WITHOUT links back to your stuff (be generous)
    • Think of your podcasting skill like that of learning a new instrument

    Get Into Jeremy's Podcast Marketing Course ASAP Before It Fills Up! (Affiliate Link)


    CONNECT WITH JEREMY
    • Find all of Jeremy’s offers at https://CounterweightCreative.co/podcastification 
    • Jeremy’s blog (mentioned at the end of the episode)
    • Find Jeremy on LinkedIn
    • Follow Jeremy on Twitter: @iamjeremyenns
    • And on Instagram: @iamjeremyenns 

    RESOURCES MENTIONED
    • Smart Passive Income Podcast from Pat Flynn (one of my early influences too)
    • All things Seth Godin are worth your time and money and… well, whatever you want to invest.
    • Seth Godin’s podcast: Akimbo (I listen to this one, too)

    Get Into Jeremy's Podcast Marketing Course ASAP Before It Fills Up! (Affiliate Link)


    46 min
  • 149: The NEW Way to Monetize Your Podcast, with Jason Sew Hoy of Supercast

    Podcast monetization may be in your future. Even if you have a relatively small show. Really.

    How it is possible? By using a friction-free platform that enables you to simply produce bonus content that is available to paid-members-only.

    Sound like a pipe dream? It’s not. My guest on this episode, Jason Sew Hoy is leading a team that has created Supercast — THE WAY (in my humble opinion) for podcasters to build a membership by giving their audience more of what they already love: audio.

    In this conversation, Jason and I cover all the topics below in detail:

    • The Supercast backstory - and why paid audio memberships are important
    • Some of Supercast’s original creators make MILLIONS per year from memberships
    • Is your podcast ready for a paid membership model?
    • Supercast’s model shows how Howard Stern and Joe Rogan are getting ripped off!
    • How average podcasters (300 downloads per ep) can make paid membership work
    • What kind of “perks” can you offer your audience to incentivize subscriptions?
    • Jason’s advice to those who wonder if they have adequate “value” to give to members
    • The Candadaland success story
    • Supercast works with any podcasting app your audience uses - easily

    If you’re at all considering monetization you must, Must, MUST listen to this episode. It will not only provide you with food for thought about monetization in general and explain why private podcast feeds are an amazing opportunity, but it will also give you lots of examples of how other podasters have succesfully done it, with large and small audiences alike.

    CONNECT WITH JASON
    • Supercast - where Jason serves as CEO
    • Jason’s podcast: Supercasters (worth the membership to get the extended version)
    • Jason on Twitter: @JSewHoy
    • Jason on LinkedIn

    RESOURCES MENTIONED
    • My supercast page (so you can see how the platform looks to listeners0
    • Sam Harris
    • Peter Attia
    • Rhonda Patrick
    • Ben Thompson’s newsletter: Stratechery
    • Substack - newsletter and more platform mentioned by Jason
    • Patreon (the membership service I moved away from)
    • Canadaland (Supercast user and podcast)

    36 min

About The Podcast Fast Track

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Podcasting is not what it used to be.

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